14.5" scale over a 13.875" scale

[thistle3585]

I was talking to a potential customer this afternoon and he asked why I build more 14.5" scale instruments than anything else and if I thought he'd notice a difference between a standard mandolin scale and the larger scale.

I told him that I build more 14.5" scale instruments because they are either 5 strings and I want the added length for the 5th string, and because I like the tonal qualities of the longer scale, especially across the treble strings, than on a standard mandolin scale. Also, it gives the musician the capability to switch to mandola tuning easier on a four string.

I can't say much on the difference in feel between scales. I think going to a single string course overshadows the scale difference, but if one has experience with a standard scale single course instrument then the longer scale would make a difference. I don't notice it so much as I don't tend to play 3 or 4 note chords and I can't physically make a four fingered G chord on a 14.5" scale.

So, what are your thoughts on choosing a 14.5" scale versus a 13.875" scale single string electric. What do you think are the pro's and con's?

[mandroid]

My Pentaula has a 15" scale [+~1/4" for low intonation] , currently detuned it to an Octave down GDAEB, .056"G is a bit looser than the .049 C on the 13.875" 4 string ..
the P5 was an AEBF#C# initially, Guess if I played with people on guitars typically in Emaj I can go back to lighter strings..

many Fan Fret Fans out there?

[Perry]

I have a Schwab Lambert model and at that time to me the big selling point was that the scale length of that typical model IS closer to a regular mandolin. The thinking was that there would not be a big difference in feel when switching between the two.

But now I play a 12 fret mando, 14 fret mando, acoustic guitar, electric guitar...all radically different....so really my opinion now (for what it's worth) is to choose the scale length that will make the mandolin sound best first and then secondly play best.

Having the instrument stay in tune is at the top of my list so if the longer scale length facilitates that then I'm all for it. That's not to say the Schwab doesn't stay in tune; it does and it's a fine instrument.

What was the Jethro quote that Paul Glasse mentioned...."sooner or later you've got to play the damn thing."

[Elliot Luber]

John Mann talks briefly about the longer scale he uses for his five-string emandos here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv98Sd01di4